Movie Review

Pass on “The Proposal”

By Liz Harding

Boise, ID—“The Proposal” opens with a harried secretary, Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) rushing to fill the coffee needs of his demanding and irrational boss, Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock). As the story continues to unfold, it becomes readily apparent that the boss/employee relationship is completely dominated by Tate, savvy editor-in-chief. For three years, Paxton has completely catered to Tate’s every command, and she has been happy to dish them out.

All of this changes, however, when she, a Canadian, is threatened with deportation. In her desperation, she announces that she and her unwitting secretary are engaged and requests a fiancé visa.

Under the watchful eye of the assigned immigration officer, Mr. Gilbertson (Denis O’Hare), the “happy” couple travel to Sitka, Alaska to tell his parents (Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen) and grandmother (Betty White) about the nuptials.

Met with conflicting emotions from family members, the two reaffirm their pact; he will agree to marry her so she can legally remain in the United States, and she will promote him to editor.

A three-day weekend in Alaska can apparently work miracles on even the most hardened and bitter of women. Away from the pressures of her job and the rigors of the city, Tate opens up and shares her deepest feelings, and the two begin to fall in love. The loving feelings begin to surface (after three years of despising each other) after a hurried kiss under familial pressure following the engagement announcement. The fact that his family owned half the town and was filthy rich certainly didn’t hurt, either.

While certain moments of the film garnish genuine laughter, such as when the conflict dynamics change to him being in charge of the relationship and she has to ask him nicely to marry her, most of this 108 minutes is spent with a simple plot-line that even a child could follow. Unfortunately, due to prolonged scenes of nudity, children and teens should not view this film.

In fact, most adults, if they have any sense, will mark “P” for pass on “The Proposal.” An anti-climatic ending, coupled with a completely unrealistic time-line (she miraculously changes from the meanest boss in the universe to his one true love in three short days), and less than stellar acting from Bullock and Nelson make this film worth about a dollar from Red box.

While Bullock’s performance failed to measure up to her incredible talent, White’s portrayal of the grandmother, Gammy, is hilarious and heart-warming. Additionally, Steenburgen’s role as Paxton’s mother is genuine and believable, and Reynolds’ talent finally makes a debut about half-way through the film.

Overall, “The Proposal” is a childish, romanticized spoof on reality with mediocre acting. Entertainment is definitely the name of the game, but it should be at least half-way believable.

Liz Harding is a junior at Boise State University and can be reached at lizharding@u.boisestate.edu.